San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1887-11-17
AN OLD THleps COMPLAINT.

Nothing but stagnation I'm tho burglary
Business Circles-Dctoctivo System.
'TIello, Bill"
The person addressed turned quickly
around with determined expression on
his face, as II expecting TO have tussle
with some one, and good naturcd smile
passed over the countensncc OF Bill Noble,
the western bank burglar, when he recog-
Broadway hotels, but his name does not
appear on the registry book.
CLOVIS business, BillP' queried q re-
porter.
"There Is nothing but light game in the
market now,p answered the bank conils-
Gator pYou can lny odds, my boy, that
IL will I've many n day before big job is
worked up In this or any other city crack
ing safes. There is just us much money
locked up In safes every night as there
ever was, hut 1t is hundred times harder
to get ut than II WINS ten or twenty years
ago. When watcliman was left in charge
of bank it was all right; but now even
small amount OF treasure Is guarded by
system OF signals so perfect that It places
half dozen men on watch, and 1t is too
big risk TO try and beat them. AS far
west as you cnn 80, and I've covered every
foot Of the ground, no chances are taken,
and you're dcad sure to toss up your life
or twenty years OF 1t, IL you attempt to
get in your fine work"
"Are the safes made todny harder to
open than when burglary was paying
professionY'
Certainly. But there Is not safe
made that cannot be beat. Time is all
that Is necessary. The tools to do the
work can he readily obtained. The bank
sneak has taken the place of the experts,
and even they are starving to death. All
the good men are doing their bit now,
and it's only n little while since l was do
ing mine. The old men in the business
can never make another deal The cops
nre on to them all the time. They arc
tracked everywhere. i left Chicago q
w0ek ago. The police here knew | was
on the way before the train was out Of the
depot, and they have been on to me every
moment since / arrived. They know
where go and what do about as well
as I do myself, and II l didn't walk n
straight line I'd get tho collar In n second.
I'm doing straight business now and have
no fear. ] used to get pretty hot when
I'd run into fellow who was piping me,
but I've got used to 1t now and feel more
amused than mad. have little quiet
fun leading the boys Oh u goose chase once
In while The efforts of the police are
directed 10 prevent thieves who are known
from organizing This is the best way to
prevent crime, as crooks cannot work
alonc on decent job. The detectives
have system by which the daily record
of all well known crooks is kept all over
the country, and the heavy hand of the
law can be put on man Mt any time.
This is harder to buck against than all the
locks and combinations ever made"
"Would you kill man while ut work
who tried to arrest your
Certainly, If / got the drop on him.
It's part Of the trade. Usually the officer
has the advantage, because burglars are
surprised ut work and there is no chance
to shoot. A man must fight for his lib
erty, even at the risk of stretching his
neck"
"Did you lay up any money while in
the businesst"
"Not dollar. Flush today and broke
tomorrow is the rule. Crooks live good
while the dust lasts, but they blow every
thing in. Every crook has his falling.
It's either wine, women or gambling.
Gambling and drinking are I'LL right, but
steer clear of women. They are the de-
tectivcs' right bower. Many good man
has been sent away by q womnn's tongue,
either from malice or stupidity. They
give clues, and the detectives get the
glory and the prisoner. New York Even-
iilp Sum